Sunday, December 30, 2012

Well since the new year is upon us, I thought I would do a quick look back at 2012. What a year it was. I had a rough start to the year emotionally, but I think I've really come into my own, and so much of that is due to blogging.

January and February

A stressful few months at work, but that stress led to a few emotional breakdowns that ultimately lead me to make some major changes in my life. The stress lead me to the take the jump and make the decision to get back into the blog world.

March and April

I created Blue Dog Belle and absolutely fell in love with blogging. I began branching out, meeting new friends, and trying new things with fashion.

May and June

Tons of fun. Puerto Rico. Relaxed in the lovely pre summer weather.

July and August

Lots of life decisions were made in these two months. I began devoting myself to the LSAT full time and realized how much I love fashion blogging.

September and October

I had the greatest ride during the political season this year. The convention in Charlotte was the experience of a life time then came the decision to trek out to Ohio for the final push into Election day. Fun times. Oh. And I took the LSAT

November and December

We Won! I came back to DC rejuvenated and ready for change. Started working on the blog more, took time for friends old and new, and started planning for 2013.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Let's be honest. I really love anything that Bravo does. I'm a Real Housewives addict. For real. I love all the casts, but since I'm from Atlanta... these ladies have to be my favorite. The Beverly Hills girls are definitely a close second in my heart.

I also LOVE Top Chef. I've been watching it from season 1. and I have to say, living in DC is wonderful because there are so many top chefs around town. I love it .

Then I'm all about NBC Thursday nights... if Community would hurry up and come back on.

The Office has been my long time favorite... and I'm still a loyal viewer, especially since this is the last season, but it's just not the same since Michael Scott left. So sad. He needs to come back for the finale.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Happy Thursday Night! I haven't forgotten you all... I just got back home to DC after a long day of traveling, so please forgive me that this post is picture heavy. I haven't done an instagram dump in a while... so here's what I've been up to lately. See you tomorrow for some Friday Fancies!

First things first – blogging is
very new to me, so I apologize that I’ve had many distractions on my tab as of
late and have not posted as quickly as I had been hoping.It has been holiday season in the
DMV, meaning back-to-back Congressional receptions, K Street galas, and
personal holiday Kikis, on top of the usual cocktail hour in the Capital, and I
haven’t set enough time to formally write it all!But, my mama always told me, don’t make
excuses.Learn, live, and change the
course ahead, so I’mma make up for my absence from last week's postings.Hope you enjoy! xoxox

It’s (well, it WAS) Monday night
in the District, and a friend of a friend is throwing a birthday celebration
together over…you guessed it, happy hour. The celebration location: Rocket Bar in
Gallery Place/Chinatown, a location I frequent fairly often due to its
convenient location in the middle of Capitol Hill and “Downtown” (downtown as
the ubiquitous phrase for DC’s K Street – the lobbying world).Rocket bar is another car in the train of one
of the newer trends to hit the Capitol City – an adult Chuck E Cheese, meaning
saloons that will serve you the sauce alongside skeeball + shuffleboard (and
pool, darts, etc.).There was first the
cupcake craze, then fro-yo fever, and now it’s this - DC has undiagnosed
ADD.This fad appears in diverse forms
across the District as well – there was the Cereal Bowl in Cleveland Park, which has since closed
(I’ll give you 1 guess as to the heart of their business), and now we have Ted
Bulletin’s on Barrack’s Row, famous for their creative homemade poptarts.These bars are a forum for residents to break away from
their city’s habit of taking itself too serious, through a taste of nostalgia…

The night is early and while
it’s also early in the week, there’s a sizeable crowd on hand.This is not my first rodeo with Rocket Bar,
and though the throng is smaller than it is later in the week, you’re bound to
find a high percentage of the congregation populated by younger Administration
staff (the Dept of Justice, the FBI, and the Dept of Labor all have offices
nearby), young business and consulting staff (Living Social is doors down), DC City staff, and local and federal judicial staff.On the other hand, there are few heavy-duty lobbyists,
limited Hill staff, and even with a Georgetown basketball game playing that
evening across the street at the Verizon Center, the inundating sports crowds pre-gaming the area
are not packing the joint either.

The staff at Rocket Bar is accommodating-this
place is everyone’s basement, where you can avoid the formalities of DC life,
let your hair down, and kick back over games that remind you of your childhood
while simultaneously catching professional athletics alongside Sportscenter, all of
which are blasting on multiple big screen TVs.This is a guy’s place-I’ve never had a girlfriend suggest Rocket Bar for
the evening, and the drinking menu is a clear reflection of that.The emphasis is placed on the brew, and while
there are other options for those who prefer a drink that other than beer, Rocket
Bar offers the basic minimums for wine and mixed drinks.What to eat with all this beer?Rocket Bar is also one in a chain of bars
which don’t serve food but welcome patrons to bring their own food-BYOF.With so many excellent bites to satisfy your
time frame, taste, and billfold budget around the GP/Chinatown, this is not a
loss for patrons.However, for my group
this evening, it’s an inconvenience to leave for nourishment and return, so we
decide to bounce the bar and the neighborhood entirely in search of a location where we can get eat, drink, and be in football merriment...

My last call on Rocket Bar: uber laid-back,
sausage-infested 20-somethings/young 30-somethings crowd, looking for an economical beer and cheap bar thrills. The
patrons are typically well-vetted and this is an escape from business, so their confidential business will stay in
the office or more formal, discrete locations; office fantasy football scenarios, however, will not.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

I'll admit it. I'm a chocolate addict. I'm one of those people who probably actually eats chocolate every day in one form or another (lately I've been loving skinny cow heavenly crisps). It's a craving I just can't quit. Mmm....

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Dear Oliver,Once again. Thank you for chewing my feet this morning while I was trying to appreciate my last few minutes of snoozing. One would think that for someone who sleeps 18 hours a day you would appreciate the fact I only get 7 precious hours. But no. You're hungry. Fine. I'll get up. However, maybe you should try to catch a mouse or two and eat them... I'm just saying. Mice are not toys to play with and I don't appreciate you rubbing your face all over them only to release them back into the wilds of our living room. Not cool sir. Not cool. However, please don't resort to eating plastic bags (I know they're your favorite) or string. String is for playing with, not for eating. As you well know, string may cause some discomfort towards the end of the digestive process-- and may yield an oh so awkward dingle-berry moment. I know you hate that. So put down the string already. On that note. Thank you for being a constant source of entertainment. I don't know what I would do with out your clumsy antics and your snuggles. Don't eat too much while I'm gone for Christmas, I'll try to do the same. xoxo, Emily (aka the one who found the decapitated mouse)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Hey ladies. I have a treat for y'all! A guest post! The lovely Jenn is here. Take it away girl!

Hi all, it's Jenn from A Pop of Style! I'm so excited Emily has given me the opportunity to share one of my gift guides on her blog. I'm so jealous that she lives in Washington, D.C.-- I spent my final semester of college there this past spring interning at C-SPAN and would give anything to be back in the city! Because I'm having a little D.C. nostalgia, I thought I'd share a Washington essentials gift guide for women. Hopefully you find something here for your co-worker, roommate, friend or even something to add to your wish list!
I hope to see you over on a Pop of Style!

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Right now it's all about Law School. I'm deep in the throws of applications right now. perfecting my personal statement. HOPING that lsac will get all my stuff together by the end of next week (fingers crossed).

Werewolves of London- Warren ZevonI told y'all the other day that I have a very eclectic taste in music--- hopefully you believe me now. I mean Jaime Foxx, Mika and Warren Zevon on one list? Talk about random. Hope y'all are having a lovely Saturday!